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I need real advice (Math)

James_B

James_B

Apr 4, 2006
746
38
37
Windsor,Ont,Canada
#1
OK, forget girls, forget dating, lets even forget bass and music. I can't seem to pass a math test if my life depended on it. This stuff is easy too. I pay attention in class I do the homework and heck, I even do extra questions to better myself. Then when it comes to tests I choke like no one has ever choked before. I don't have any distractions on when I am studying or doing homework. I look in the back of the book to see if my anwser are right and I even go on the internet to help further explain it all. I don't get it. Is there any help or advice you can all give me.

I'm in college and tests are the only way to get marks.

Thanks
James_B
 
#3
Choking under pressure, whether it's test taking, sports competition, sex, music performance or dealing with an emergency is one of the hardest problems to overcome, but there is one proven way to do so and that is becoming so used to performing that it becomes automatic.

Practice (in your case, math problems) both with and without distractions, practice with someone timing you, practice every conceivable way of doing the problems until you can perform even if you're afraid of being unsure or nervous. The high comfort level that comes with the familiarity of practice automatically provides the confidence to perform. This is no quick fix, just lots of hard work that eventually leads to a lifelong habit, so get started. :p
 
#6
I always found ways to turn Math into a game. For instance, when I'd take test I wouldn't call it a "test"...it was "Playing a Game." And I'm not "solving problems"...just "Playing the game" according to the rules.

Trick yourself. And +1 to what hbercat said too.
 
#8
My wife was the same way in college. I am the exact opposite (big jerk). From watching her prepare for a test and then (usually) driving her to class on the day of, I observed two things: 1) she knew the material inside and out 2) she would consistently freak out just before test time.

1) is obviously a big plus but 2) pretty much nullifies it. Try to relax; if you can work the problems in your dorm room, then you can work them on the test. Try slowing down a bit. Take the first few minutes of the exam period to look through your test and assess the level of difficulty. Then, start with the problems you think are easiest. This builds confidence and also gets you points on the exam. Don't freak out if you can't solve 100% of the problems all the way through; do what you can and move on. Most profs will give you partial credit.

I hope this helps some. Additionally, as a bit of encouragement, my wife is now a fairly successful aeronautical engineer. In fact, she just got home from speaking at an FAA conference -- and she's only 28.
 
#9
I had similar issues.

I spoke about it to my instructors, and got a Dean involved.
Ultimately we worked out a deal that allowed me to do
a take home test type of thing. I think they know there are
people who just don't test well, but the onus is on you to
raise your hand and do something about it, otherwise they
figure you don't care, so why should they.
 
#10
IAmTheDood said:
don't practice until you think you "may" have it .. or "may" understand it..

practice it to the point where you don't have to look in the back of the book and KNOW you are right.

practice to the point where you can read the question once and know the answer without even thinking.
Click to expand...
Of course, the last suggestion doesnt exactly apply for upper level math ;) id give my life to the guy that can look at some diffeq and know the answer right away. ha
 
#12
I don't know if any of this advice will apply to you, but I get to mark a few exams (even less fun than doing them - you only have to answer each question once!), and have seen the same screw ups time and time again. I now give a lecture to the students telling them exactly how they're going to screw up, and they still make the same dumb, basic mistakes.

Rule number 1: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
If you don't answer enough parts of questions to add up to the pass mark, then you don't pass. Each year I see papers where the student has revised part of the sylabus, answerd 1 question decently, but been totally unable to answer any other questions. Make sure you're going to be able to answer ALL the questions

Rule number 2: ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
(very similar to rule 1) The questions are often written to give you hints as to how they want them answered - for example sugguestion a technique you should apply to the problem. DO IT THE WAY YOUR TOLD. After you've answered the question, re-read it and make sure you've hit all the sub-points, and hints - there are marks for all of those.

Rule 3: If I can't read it I can't mark it
Paper isn't in short supply. If you screw up, rewrite it, rather than trying to fix it. Leave space, start a new page if there's not room. It's not fun trying to mark equations crammed into the margin because you ran out of space on the page. If necessary rewrite the whole answer in a clearer format, if your first go isn't clear. Strictly speaking there aren't marks for presentation, but when you have a huge pile of papers to mark, an unreadable answr makes a grumpy examiner.

Rule 4:Nail all the easy marks
There ARE easy marks... If a question has 10 marks, you'll get a couple of even attempting it. A half decent answer will get you 6. A GOOD answer will get you 8 or 9. That last mark to get 10/10 is almost impossible. Even on a maths exam there are makrs for technique and style - the right answer might only get you 2/10 if your working is poor. It therefore pays to make sure you have a good go at all the parts of the question (and bear that in mind when choosing your questions), rather than picking an option question where you can nail one part, but will struggle on the other parts - answer all that parts of the question.


Rule 5: Use your time well
Take time to read over the paper, and choose your questions. Work out how long you have for each question, spend that time on it. You probably don't have any rush. When you're finished re-read your answers, and improve them. I'm amazed every year that students would leave and exam early - do they really believe their answers are so perfect they can't be improved?

These may not all apply in your case, but I've marked a fair few papers over the years - most of the fails have made several of these mistakes.

Ian
 

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